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Defense Policy / Programs

• 5th-gen fighters debut in Philippines during bilateral integration US Air Force 18 Mar 2023 -- U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptors from the 525th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, with support from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, traveled to Clark Air Base, Philippines, to integrate and train with Philippine air force 5th Fighter Wing counterparts, March 13-14.
• British Defense Ministry: Russia Likely Preparing for Wider Conscription VOA 18 Mar 2023 -- Russia is "likely" gearing up to cast a wider net to increase its military forces, according to the British Defense Ministry's daily Intelligence update on Ukraine.
• China urges AUKUS countries to stop putting geopolitical agenda above obligations People's Daily 18 Mar 2023 -- China on Friday urged the U.S., the UK and Australia to stop putting their selfish geopolitical agenda above nuclear non-proliferation obligations and stop coercing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) into endorsing their nuclear submarine cooperation.
• Iran launches two homemade landing craft vessels in Bandar Abbas IRNA 18 Mar 2023 -- Two domestically-built landing crafts weighing 800 tons each were launched in one of the shipbuilding companies in Bandar Abbas, Deputy Head of Hormuzgan Ports and Navigation Organization for Navigation Affairs announced.
• Iran, China, Russia are now in same league to ensure maritime security: Cmdr. Press TV 18 Mar 2023 -- Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says the joint exercises by naval forces of Iran, China and Russia in the Sea of Oman sent a clear message to external forces that the three powerhouses are in the same league when it comes to maritime security in the region.
• Japanese, German Defense Ministers Agree to Conduct Joint Military Exercises, Reports Say Sputnik 18 Mar 2023 -- Japanese and German defense ministers, Yasukazu Hamada and Boris Pistorius, have agreed to cooperate in the military sphere and conduct joint drills, as well as start preparations for the realization of an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement (ACSA), media reported on Saturday.
• Royal Gibraltar Regiment trains partners in West Africa UK MOD 18 Mar 2023 -- Members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment (RG) have spent five weeks in The Gambia training officers and soldiers from the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF).

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News


• Situation with China 'fragile, dangerous' in Himalayan front, Indian FM warns Press TV 18 Mar 2023 -- India has warned that the situation between New Delhi and Beijing across a disputed border area in the western Himalayas remains "fragile" and "dangerous."
• Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: Implementation Annex to the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation of Relations between Kosovo and Serbia European External Action Service (EEAS) 18 Mar 2023
• Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell after High Level Meeting in Ohrid European External Action Service (EEAS) 18 Mar 2023 -- The European Union welcomes the Parties agreeing today on the implementation of the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation of Relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which is foreseen to become integral and binding part of the respective European paths of the Parties.
• Leaders Of Serbia And Kosovo Meet In Key EU-Mediated Talks RFE/RL 18 Mar 2023 -- Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic are meeting on March 18 for talks mediated by the European Union on implementing a deal to normalize bilateral ties.
• Thousands March In Belgrade In Opposition To Normalization Plan With Kosovo RFE/RL 18 Mar 2023 -- Several thousand people protested on March 17 in Belgrade against a plan on the normalization of ties between Serbia and Kosovo on the eve of a new round of high-level talks on the plan.
• Borrell Says Belgrade, Pristina Agree on Implementation Annex of Normalization Proposal Sputnik 18 Mar 2023 -- EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says Belgrade and Pristina reached agreement during talks in North Macedonia on the program for the implementation of the European-US reconciliation plan for Kosovo and Serbia.
• Yerevan Accuses Baku of Preparing Aggression Against Armenia, Using 'Aggressive' Rhetoric Sputnik 18 Mar 2023 -- The Armenian Foreign Ministry on Saturday accused Azerbaijan of preparing an "aggression" against Armenia by using aggressive discourse and actions Armenia sees as undermining the existing agreements between the two countries.

News Reports

• Xi's Russia trip to advance friendship, cooperation, peace: spokesperson People's Daily 18 Mar 2023 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Russia will be a trip of friendship, cooperation and peace, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday.
• The more turbulent the world is, the more China-Russia relations should move forward steadily: Chinese Ambassador to Russia Global Times 18 Mar 2023
• China-Russia ties should "move forward steadily" in turbulent world, says Chinese ambassador People's Daily 18 Mar 2023 -- "The more turbulent the world is, the more important it is for China-Russia relations to move forward steadily," Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said in a recent joint interview with Chinese media.
• HKSAR, Macao SAR chief executives support formation of Hong Kong and Macao work office of CPC Central Committee People's Daily 18 Mar 2023 -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee and Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng on Thursday expressed firm support for the formation of the Hong Kong and Macao work office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
• China announces reserve requirement ratio cut People's Daily 18 Mar 2023 -- China's central bank said Friday it will cut the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for financial institutions by 0.25 percentage points from March 27 to keep liquidity reasonably ample and better serve the real economy.
• CPPCC charter amendment unveiled, underscores the practice of whole-process people's democracy Global Times 18 Mar 2023 -- Amendment to the charter of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was unveiled on Saturday with the aim to uphold and improve the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), practice the democratic ideas of whole-process people's democracy and give full play to the role of the CPPCC as a special consultative body to better serve the overall work of the Party and the country.
• China launches new Earth observation satellite People's Daily 18 Mar 2023 -- China on Friday sent a new Earth observation satellite into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan March 18, 2023 ROC MND 18 Mar 2023
• Press Review KCNA 18 Mar 2023 -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Saturday:
• Many Youths of DPRK Volunteer for Military Service KCNA 18 Mar 2023 -- The move to provoke a nuclear war by the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet traitors, which is the worst-ever in their aggressive nature and scale and a flagrant violation of the DPRK's sovereignty, security and interests, is now inching close to the unpardonable red-line.
• 800,000 North Koreans volunteer for war against US: Report Press TV 18 Mar 2023 -- North Korea's state newspaper says hundreds of thousands of the country's citizens have declared their readiness to fight in a potential war against the United States.
• Meetings of Party Committees at Ministries, National Institution of DPRK KCNA 18 Mar 2023 -- Enlarged plenary meetings of party committees of the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Land and Maritime Transport, the Pyongyang Construction Commission, the State Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports took place from March 14 to 17 to implement the resolutions of the 7th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
• North Korea/DPRK: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on 15 March EC/CEU 17 Mar 2023 -- The European Union (EU) strongly condemns the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on 15 March, which followed its launch of short-range missiles. These illegal and dangerous actions all constitute blatant violations of UN Security Council resolutions that threaten international peace and security.
• Tehran-Riyadh deal can foster regional stability: Iran FM spokesman IRNA 18 Mar 2023 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani believes that a recent China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore relations after seven years can promote stability in the entire region.
• Iran court issues sentences over terrorist attack in Shah Cheragh Press TV 18 Mar 2023 -- An Iranian court has handed out death sentences to two men over their involvement in a deadly terrorist attack last October on the Shah Cheragh shrine in the southern city of Shiraz.
• Raeisi: Enemies seek to instill despair, turn Iran's strengths into weaknesses Press TV 18 Mar 2023 -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has lauded the Islamic Republic's achievements and progressive movement over the years, saying the enemies seek to induce despair among the people and turn the country's strengths into weaknesses.
• Pessimistic about future, young Burmese rush to get passports to go abroad Radio Free Asia 18 Mar 2023 -- Ohnmar Myint is in her 20s and doesn't think she can pursue her dreams - or make much of a living - in Myanmar anymore.
• Pakistan police raid Imran Khan's house after ex-PM heads to court Press TV 18 Mar 2023 -- Pakistan's police have raided the residence of former Prime Minister Imran Khan as he arrived in Islamabad to attend a court hearing over graft charges, officials from his political party said.
• Arrest Warrant Against Former Pakistani Prime Minister Dropped After Judge Marks Court Appearance RFE/RL 18 Mar 2023 -- A Pakistani judge has dropped an arrest warrant against former Prime Minister Imran Khan after he traveled to court in Islamabad to comply with an official order that he appear.
• Pakistan's Ex-PM Khan Makes Court Appearance Amid Clashes Between His Supporters and Police VOA 18 Mar 2023 -- Pakistani riot police Saturday clashed with thousands of former prime minister Imran Khan supporters as his motorcade arrived outside the court building in the capital, Islamabad, to face charges of unlawfully selling state gifts he received when in office.
• Kazakh Authorities Seek 'Change They Can Control' In Parliament Election RFE/RL 18 Mar 2023 -- More than a year after cataclysmic political unrest and against the unsettling background of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan will complete a political cycle with its third nationwide vote in less than a year.
• A new front: S Korea, Japan mending ties amid tensions on Korean Peninsula Press TV 18 Mar 2023 -- South Korea will fully implement a key military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, a defense ministry official said on Saturday, as the two countries are seeking to mend ties.
• Bosnian Serb Leader Threatens To Cut Diplomatic Ties With U.S., Britain RFE/RL 18 Mar 2023 -- Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has threatened to cut off contacts with U.S. and British diplomats and embassies in Bosnia-Herzegovina over what Dodik's office said was interference in the internal affairs of Bosnia.
• Don't give up on Haiti, plead senior UN aid officials UN News 18 Mar 2023 -- Following their return from a fact-finding visit to Haiti, a group of senior United Nations officials and representatives of NGOs issued an urgent call on Saturday, for increased access and resources to reach people in desperate need.
• As humanitarian needs in Haiti reach alarming highs, U.N. and partners spotlight urgency of stepping up response UNOCHA 18 Mar 2023 -- With the humanitarian situation in Haiti deteriorating by the day - in the face of spiralling violence, protection, human rights and food emergencies, as well as a cholera epidemic - the United Nations and its partners issued an urgent call for increased access and resources to reach people in desperate need.
• Sudanese Officials to Speed Up Forming Civilian Government VOA 18 Mar 2023 -- Signers of the political deal in Sudan say a transitional civilian government is expected to be named in April. Both civilian and military officials agreed Wednesday to expedite restoration of civilian rule in Sudan, where the military has ruled since a 2021 coup. But some groups are against the framework agreement and many Sudanese are skeptical that the military will ever give up power.
• Egypt, Turkey Close to Resuming Full Diplomatic Relations VOA 18 Mar 2023 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Cairo on Saturday to push to restore full diplomatic relations between the two countries despite Ankara's ongoing support for the Muslim Brotherhood group.